Prostaglandins and acid peptic disease.

Naturally occurring PGs are considered important in maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Evidence indicates that synthetic analogs of PGs heal gastroduodenal ulcers in doses that suppress gastric acid. No consistent benefit of this class of drugs compared with already available conventional agents has been demonstrated in the treatment of duodenal or gastric ulcer disease. Nonantisecretory doses of PGs, by maintaining mucosal integrity and preventing ulcer recurrence, may eventually have a role in the treatment of ulcer disease. The potential of PGs to prevent gastroduodenal mucosal injury caused by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, alcohol, aspirin, and stress, if supported by the results of ongoing clinical trials, may be a major therapeutic advance for the treatment of peptic ulcer and related acid peptic diseases.